i have a 17 month old bitch who has for most of her life been itchy. Feet , ears and anal gland problems . At the moment keeping the ears under control with a steroid spray. The Vet wants to start her on a monthly injection of cytopoint . I am not that keen on her starting this as her symptoms are quite mild . Has anyone tried alternative treatments, such as acupuncture or homeopathy?
Hi Frankie, I am sorry you have such an itchy dog, must be really distressing for both of you. Cytopoint is what we refer to as a MAB (Monoclonal antibody) designed specifically for dogs. It works in 2 ways, by interrupting the inflammatory cascade thus stopping the itching, and also stopping the message to the brain which translates into "I have an itch". The use of MABs in dogs is relatively new, they are very effective though, and in my mind, better than using steroids in terms of side effects. Saying all that, I am presuming that everything has been done to understand the allergen causing these symptoms, and your dog has been on a strict exclusion diet to identify the allergen causing this unless of course, the problem is a complex seasonal issue, pollens etc and short-term relief is required. Regarding alternative treatments for systemic allergies then no, there is nothing licensed or considered effective on the market. I do think however acupuncture can help, BUT for soft tissue problems associated with injury/wear and tear and not allergies. Note: This is my opinion. My final thoughts regarding dogs and dermatological problems are around how dogs cope with discomfort. They are typically stoic creatures and rarely do they complain, what may appear to be a mild itch, could be more irritating to the dog that we realise, just something to bear in mind. Low-grade discomfort in a young dog may have an impact on behaviour, especially with other dogs, this is also worth noting. link to Cytopoint data: http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/?id=-466173
Hi @Frankie , sorry to hear about your dogs itchy problems. Has her diet been looked at as a likely cause of her problems? I have no experience of acupuncture but I am a big believer in homeopathy. I use it myself as I have quite good understanding of the subject, but I think if you wanted to go down that route it would be best to find a homeopathic veterinary surgeon.
Thank you for your reply She has been on a hypoallergenic diet for about 4 weeks and has improved but the Vet wanted her to start on the new treatment straight away but I would rather try to look for other treatments first
